Lock for interlocking levers



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,617

S. P. HULL ET AL Loox FOR INTERLOCKING :.Fvns

original Filed Deo. 4, 1925 3 shes-sheet 1 WW ATTORNEY.

Aug. 114, 192s. 1,680,617

S. P. HULL El' AL LOCK FOR INTERLOGKING LEVERS Original Filed Dec. 4, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

Aus. 14, 192s.

S. P. HULL ET AL LOCK FOR INTERLOCKING LEVERS Original Filed Dec. 4, 1925 I5 Smets-Sheet 3 lnumll A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNI-TED STATES SAMUEL r. HULL, or YoNKnns, JOHN J. coacoRAN, or ALBANY,

AND EDWARD A.

EVERETT, OF NEW YORK, N.'Y.

LOCK FOR INTERLOCKIN G LEVERS.

Application filed December 4, 1925, Serial No. 73,283.

This invention relates to electric locks 'for interlocking levers of the type generally used in railway signaling and has for an object to provide a mechanically operated con trol of the engaging members or' a lock of this class which insures the positive engagement of the lock and tilcertain predetermined conditions are established affecting the mechanical locking between the various levers of an interlocking system. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specilication and the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lock with the cover removed, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock with the cover in section, Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the lock magnet showing the operating plunger, Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the lock with the cover in section, Fig. 5 shows one application of our invention to the lever of an interlocking machine. Fig. 6 is a drawing, partly in section, showing the lock in the engaging position when the lever is normal; Fig.` 7 shows the lock in the released position with the lever free to move in either direction, and Fig. 8 shows the lock in the engaging position with the lever reversed. 1

In modern signal practice it is necessary to restrict the movement of interlocking levers by electrically controlled locks which are controlled in various ways as part of the block system. Locks for this purpose have been in general use for some time and invariably are constructed so that gravity brings about the engaging of the locking members, while these members are disengaged by establishing the circuit of a magnet. The gravity locks referred to are Vunreliable as there is always the possibility of the magnet failing to release due to residual magnetism or mechanical resistance in the moving parts; or it may fail to release at the proper time so that the locking member when released does not register with the locking notch in the moving member and the parts fail to engage. This latter condition is particularly true when a certain amount of lost motion develops in the moving parts operatedvby the lever and hence the maintenance becomes diliicult and unsafe conditions are liable to arise.

Interlocking levers invariably comprise a lever part and a latch part and these are assembled in a frame with suitable mechanical revents its release iin-- Renewed January 14, 1928.

locking to restrict the movement of conflicting levers. The latch mechanism is always operated preliminary to and at the completion of the lever movement and in at least one well knownform of interlocking, the latch mechanism operates the mechanical locking so that the lever cannot be unlatched for a movement until the mechanical locking of the conflicting levers is in a' predetermined position and the mechanical locking of other levers governing conflicting movements cannot be released until the lever movement has been completed and latched in its iiualposition. From this it will be understood that the latch mechanism is operated to release the lever for a movement and is again operated to latch the lever after the movement is completed, but is not operated during the movement of the lever.

Certain of the electric locks referred to have been applied to the latch mechanism, others have been applied to ythe lever mechanism. In either case the lock operates on the same principle and is liable to the detects mentioned. In our invention the op-v eration 'of the lock is associated with the combined or cooperative movement of the latch mechanism and of the lever. A slid- -ing member of thelock which has a notch engaged by the locking dog is coupled to the lever and the movement of the lever is restricted whenthis member is engaged by the locking dog. The locking dog is raised to release this member by a magnet; however, another sliding member traverses the path of the locking dog preventing it from releasing except when this member is in a predetermined position. This member isl coupled with the latch mechanism and when the lever is unlatched it is in position to permit the locking dog to be raised and release the lever. As soon however, as the lever is latched in either position this sliding .member forces the locking dog into engagenient with the lever operated member, me? chanically, and thereby insures that the electric lock is effectively engaged4 to hold the lever before the mechanical locking of the interlocking system is released to permit the operation of other levers. f

Referring to the drawings, 11 is the-.frame of the lock which is suitably secured to the interlocking'machine. The base casting 12 supports the magnetv 13 over the locking slide 35.v The upstanding brackets 14 and support the crank 17 on the shaft 16. A bracket is secured to the top of magnet 13 and supports the operating mechanism on top of the magnet comprising the guide 1.9, slide 20, contact ingers 21 and 22 secured through the insulation 23 and the vertical bar 32 which projects through the cover and forms the means by which the cover may be padlocked in place.

Bracket 25 secured to the outer end of slide 20 insulates and supports the contact post- 24, which, as the slide moves to the right engages with the jaws of the contact fingers 21 and 22 and establishes a circuit between these iingers. lVhen moved still further to the right it passes between these fingers as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2 and therehy opens the circuit again. The contact iinlgers 21 and 22 control the circuit of magnet 13 by the connection 31 which is incorporated with the signalcircuits as desired.

The crank 17 operates the slide 20 through the link 27 which is pivoted to the crank arm 28 at one end and through the stud 26 is pivotally connected with the end of the slide 20. The crank 17 is operated through the jaw 29 and rod 30 as hereafter described. The locking slide is provided with a lock ing notch 37 and has a turned up end at 36 by means of'whicli it is connected with the ever.

The detailed construction of the lock magnet is shown in Fig. 3. The magnet is of the solenoid type provided with an iron cover and with a Norway iron core 42 at the upper end. The plunger 43 is made of magnetic iron in tubular form with a hard-y ened steel dog 44 riveted into one end and a brass or non-magnetic cap 45 on the other end which engages the core 42. This nonniaguetic cap insures a non-magnetic gap between the magnetic plunger 43 and the core 42 so that residual magnetism cannot hold these parts together. The plunger 46 is made from non-magnetic material such as hard bronze and is raised by the plunger 43 into the slot 2O1 in which the slide 2O moves.

A lever of an interlocking machine of a standard type is shown in 5. The lever proper, 61 is ulcrumed at 62 and has a cross lever 63 rigidly secured thereto and to which the functions controlled by the lever are connected. This lever is provided with a latch handle 64 pivoted at 65 and which controls the up and down movement of the latch rod 66 which is normally maintained in the down position by the spring 67. A latch block 68 is rigidly connected with the latch rod 66 and latches behind the ledge 69 of the floor quadrant in the normal position as shown and latches at 70 behind the other end of this quadrant when the lever is reversed.

The link 71 is pivoted at 73 and has an are shaped slot as shown struck from the "radius 62. In this slot the pin 72 slides as the lever is moved and this pin is rigidly connected wth the latch rod through the member 72a. This is standard construction and it will be observed that raising the latch 64 will raise the latch block 68 above 69 and will partially rotate link 71 on pivot 73 so that the tappet connection 74 is lowered. As the lever moves from one position to the other there is no movement of the link 7l, but when the lever is latchcd again in the reversed position the opposite end ot link 71 is further rotated completing the downward movement of the tappet connection 74 which operates the locking bar 75 and the locking dog 77 which may be arranged to ai'lect the locking bars connected with other levers as 7 6 according to the construction of interlocking machines. It is thus to be noted that raising the latch ot' the lever gives a partial movement to link 71 which is comleted in the same direction after the lever lias completed its stroke and is latched in the new position.

The locking slide 35 is coupled to the lever by the up-standing end 36 and the U-shaped connector 79 which is formed to prevent ost motion between these parts, as by the tapered groove 81. The rocker 71 is connected at 7S torod 30 which connects to the crank 17 and thus the slide on top of lock is operated by the movement oit' the lever latch.

The operation of the lock will be understood from Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the normal position shown in Fig. 6 the notch 37 in the locking slide 35 is engaged by the locking dog 44 and in this position the lever is locked. The lock is released by raising the latch 64, this moves the slide 2O so that the notch 51 registers with the plunger 46 and this permits the plunger 43 to be raised electrically when coil 41 is energized. At the same time the circuit is established between contact fingers 21 and 22 by contact post 24 and if the circuit is established throughout the control of the magnet the locking dog 44 will be released from the notch 37 and the lever may be moved to the new position with the dog 44 sliding on top of bar 35 as indicated in Fig. 7. When the lever reaches its final position, another notch 37 registers` with dog 44 and if the coil 41 is deenergized the lever will he locked again by gravity. In this position, it will be noted that when the lever is latched the notch 51 in slide 2() is moved out of register' with the plunger 46 and the inclined faces of this notch mechanically forces the plunger 46 and the locking dog 44 into engagement with the notch in the locking bar.

With this arrangement therefore the latching of the lever in either position mechanically forces the engagement oi. the electric lock and until the lever is unlatched, the lock cannot be released. On the other hand, if the notch in the locking bar through lost motion or other causes does not register with the locking dog, then the plunger 46 cannot be ford down by slide 20, the lever cannot be latched in its new position and the movement of locking bar 75 cannot be completed t0 release the locking of levers controlling oontiicting routes. It should be noted that ,the slide 35 has a comparatively long movement and the lockingnotch can be comparatively wide relative to the locking dog witheut impairing the eciency of the lock.

The object in controlling the circuit of the magnet by the slide 2() is to energize the 'ma not at the proper time for releasing the and to open its circuit at other times to save battery current. i

III the 'operation of an interlocking system the position of the lever when the lock becomes effective is a matter that is arranged to suit conditions. For this reason the shape of the notches in the locking slide may be varied as indicated in dotted outline in ig. 6 at 37.

The arrangement described corresponds with the lock connected to the link in the position shown in Fig. 5. It should be noted that the lockmay be operatively connected with the latch in other Ways than that shown, and may be located on the opposite side of the lever connecting to the link 71 at 78a instead of 78. In the latter case the position of slide 20 isreversed with respect to the position of locking slide 35.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. In an electric lock forV interlocking levers, the combination of a part operatively connected with said lever, an electrically controlled lock for restricting the movement of said part and a member operatively connected with the latch of said lever for mechanically controlling the operation of said lock.

2. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a part operativelyV connected with said lever, an electrically controlled lock for restricting t-he movement of said part and a member operatively connected with the latch of said lever for mechanically forcing the engagement of said lock with said part.

3. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a part operatively connected with said lever, an electrically controlled lock for restricting the movement of said part and a member operatively connected with the latch of said lever arranged to prevent mechanically, the release of said lock except when in a predetermined position.

4. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member having a notch, operatively connected with said lever, an electric lock controlling a dog arranged to engage said notch to restrict the movement of said member and means mechanically operated connected with the latch of said lever for controlling the movement of said dog.

5. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member having a notch and operatively connected wit-li said lever, an electric lock controlling a dog arranged to engage said notch to restrict the movement of said lever and a sliding member mechanically connected with the latch of said lever for preventing the release of said dog except When said lever is unlatched.

6. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member having a locking notch and operatively connected with said lever, an electric lock controlling a locking dog arranged to engage said notch to restrict the movement of said lever, a` sliding member mechanically connected with the latch of said lever, and having a notch therein and means whereby said dog may be released When said notch isV in a predetermined position.

7. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member operatively connected With said lever, a slide member operatively connected, mechanically, with the latch of said lever, a locking dog interposed between Said members and operatively associated vvith said members and a magnet for controlling said lockingv dog.

- 8. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member operatively connected with said lever, a solenoid magnet having a plunger engaging said locking member to restrict its .move-V inent, a slide member operatively connected, mechanically, with the latch of said lever and adapted to be operatively engaged by said plunger.

9. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member operatively connected with said lever, a solenoid magnet having a plunger engaging said locking member-to restrict its movement, a slide member operatively connected With the latch of said lever and -liaving a limited movement and means whereby the movement of said plunger is restricted except when said slide member is in its mid-position.

l0. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member operatively connected with said lever, a solenoid magnet having a plunger engaging said locking member to restrict its movement, a non-magnetic plunger engaging said plunger and projecting beyond the end of said sole- Anoid and a slide member intercepting the movement of said non-magnetic plunger operatively `connected With the latch of said lever.

l1. In an electric lock for interlocking leo levers, the combination of a looking member operatively connected with said lever, a sliding member operatively connected with the latch of said lever, a magnetically 'controlled plunger arranged to move between said locking member and said sliding member and having a dog arranged to engage a notch in said locking member and means whereby said sliding member forces said dog into engagement with said locking member.

l2. In an electric lock for interlocking levers, the combination of a locking member operatively Connected with said lever, a sliding member operatively connected with the latch of said lever, a magnetically controlled plunger arranged to move between said locking member and said sliding member, a dog associated with said plunger arranged to engage a notch 1n said locking member and a notch 1n sald slichng member having 1n- Aclined planes arranged to engage the end of said plunger.

Signed at New York city, county and State of New York, this 16th day of Novem- November, 1925. y e

JOHN J. CORCORAN. Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of N ew York, this 17th day of N ovember, 1.925. f

EDlVARD A. EVERETT. 

